Mark Sutton, olympic James Bond stuntman, dies in accident at 42

Mark Sutton, the stuntman who parachuted into the London 2012 Olympic ceremony as James Bond, died Wednesday while suit surfing in the Swiss Alps.

The 42 year-old, a former army officer, reportedly crashed into a ridge after he jumped out of a helicopter wearing a wing-diving suit. He was flying near Martigny, Switzerland at the time of the incident.

According to the Valais police service, Sutton jumped from a height of 10,826ft and intended to land in a field close to the hamlet of Le Peuty, near Trient. He was believed to be flying at 124 mph when he crashed against the mountain ridge.

Jean-Marie Bornet, of the Valais police service, claimed his injuries were so severe his body had to be identified through DNA tests.

"We do not know what caused his death but we know it was immediate," Bornet said. "The weather was good but when a pilot takes part in this sport, the aim is to fly very close to the ground or mountain side."

Trey Cook, the editor-in-chief of Epic TV the company that hosted the suit-surfing event Sutton was taking part in, said the incident was devastating.

"It was a really casual event," he said. "They had gone up in helicopters and they were jumping. They were choosing their own courses. We were filming them as they were flying."

Swiss police are currently investigating the incident.